Leona Schmitz’s remarkable journey through this life came to a peaceful end on December 15, 2024 at St. Anthony’s Nursing Home in Carroll.
Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m., Friday, December 20, 2024 at St. John Catholic Church in Arcadia. The Celebrant will be Fr. Merlin Schrad. Music will be by Sharon Bierl and the St. John Choir. Lector for the Funeral Mass will be Peg Scheidt. Casket Bearers will be Jeff Schmitz, Nick Kohorst, Braydon Schmitz, Jake Schmitz, Tom Hiler, Cameron Schmitz and Calvin Hiler. Burial will be in St. John Cemetery in Arcadia.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll. There will be no visitation on Friday at the church prior to the Funeral Mass.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll and online condolences may be left for Leona’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Leona was born November 10, 1929, the daughter of Margaret (Mattes) and John A. Tigges in Dedham, Iowa. Leona attended Annunciation Elementary School in Coon Rapids and graduated from Coon Rapids High School. She worked at Iowa Savings Bank in Coon Rapids before going to Commercial Extension Business School in Omaha. After returning from Omaha she worked at Carroll County State Bank. She married Clair T. Schmitz, June 6, 1950, at Annunciation Catholic Church in Coon Rapids. Father Louis Anthofer performed the marriage ceremony and mass. Leona and Clair owned and operated Arcadia Farm Supply until 1987. Leona was a hero to her family, an inspiration to friends whose lives she touched and an all-around decent person. She was honest, happy, optimistic, friendly, open, loving, non-judgmental and generous – she also had a most wonderful sense of humor. She was humble to the end.
She was very involved in her community serving as City Clerk for eight years (1986 to 1994) and she then served on the Arcadia City Council for twelve years (1997 to 2009). She was involved with the Arcadia Community Club and the Arcadia Betterment and Development Corp. Her efforts were instrumental in the development of the Redig subdivision in Arcadia. She retired from her position at New Hope Village after working there for 22 years. The clients she served were a part of her family and she treated them as such. She was a member of St John’s Church and the St. John’s Parish Guild. She thoroughly enjoyed spending time with her family and many friends, traveling, and playing Scrabble.
She is survived by her husband, Clair. Children: Steve (Bonnie) Schmitz, Peg (Jo Chinburg) Schmitz, Tim Schmitz, Dale (Nancy) Schmitz, Sandy Kamphoff, Mary (Oran) Kohorst, Tom (Ann Lander) Schmitz, Janet (Loren) Krueger. Grandchildren: Jeff Schmitz (Heather Rivera), Sarah (Tom) Hiler, Keri (Dominic) Buren, Kacy Kamphoff, Melissa Kohorst (Luke Weir,) Nick (Allison) Kohorst, Cody (Rachel) Schmitz, Jake (Callie) Schmitz, Hayli (Henry) Thorpe, Hannah (Megan) Schmitz, and Jeffrey Lander. Great-grandchildren: Braydon, Cameron, and Nolan Schmitz, Sydney, Calvin, James, and Henry Hiler, Jaxon and Corina Weir, Wyatt and McKenna Kohorst, Gabriel, John, Lucy, and Henry Schmitz, and Evelyn and Harrison Schmitz. Brother: Dan (Sandy) Tigges. Sisters-in-law: Jane Ahmann, and Meg Tigges.
She was preceded in death by her parents, and a son, Duane. Siblings: Rita (Orlie) Knutson, Mary Ann (Gerald) Gettler, Coletta (Bill) Wood, Gerald (Donna) Tigges, John Tigges, Jim (Jeri) Tigges, Louise (Dick) Harrison. In-laws: Jack (Gladys) Schmitz; Elmer (Eileen) Schmitz, Mark Ahmann, Marian Schmitz and Eugene (Butch) Schmitz. Son-in-law: Denny Kamphoff.
